Private J Devlin

Private J. Devlin, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. He died, on Service, as the result of an accident on 4th December 1915 and although he is not named on Ayton War Memorial he is buried in Ayton Churchyard. He lived at 5 Temple Lane, Dundee with his wife. He had been a member of the Black Watch reserve for ten years and had rejoined on the outbreak of War but was transferred to the Gordon Highlanders. He was then sent to France where he was slightly wounded and invalided home where he remained until 3rd December 1915 when he boarded the train to start the journey back to his Regiment. He was seen off by his wife and brother-in-law and it seems that drink had been taken prior to his departure. When the train reached Berwick it was noticed that a carriage door was open. A search of the line was made and the body of Private Devlin was found by the line. For some reason his body was not taken back to Dundee but buried in Ayton after his wife had identified him.